18. WHAT LAWS GOVERNED ENGLAND IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIMES? WHAT CRIMES WERE COMMON IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? AND, WHAT WERE THE PUNISHMENTS? WHAT IS THE CLINK? WHAT WERE JAILS LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND?
The enforcement of the law and the level of crime in Elizabethan England are chaotic compared to today’s standards. Basically, there was a parish in each town that looked over the people and protected the law. These people put criminals in jail or decided punishment for them. The crimes that were going on in the Elizabethan time are similar to today’s crime, except, there was a lot more of it. Many people were minor criminals that robbed houses or pick pocketed people on the streets. Several people were also punished for public drunkenness or even small gossiping. Yet, there were also big crimes like manslaughter, rape, and piracy. These crimes led to severe punishment. To enforce the law and keep the level of crime down the government had to have consequences for the criminals.
The Pillory. the Brank, a Hanging, and the Whipping Post
The punishments depended on the crime committed but it was always extremely cruel. There were many unusual punishments that are never even considered to be used today. The brank, the pillory, the stocks, drowning, burning, hanging, the drunkard's cloak, the ducking stool, and the whipping post were all different types of punishment. All of these punishments or tortures were used for different specific crimes. A woman found guilty of poisoning her husband was burned alive. A cook who poisoned his customers was boiled to death in a cauldron of water or lead. The drunkard’s cloak was a punishment for public drunkenness. In this the criminal the drunk was forced to put on a barrel as if it was a tee-shirt and wander through town while the villagers jeer at him. For women who gossiped the brank was used as the punishment. In this punishment the offender would walk around town with her jaw clamped shut and was then whipped or was put in a pillory. The pillory was a wooden post with a wooden block on top with holes in it for the person's hands and head to be placed in. The heads and hands were then locked into place while the person was forced to stand in public display for the death sentence. The stocks are like the pillory except the feet are locked in. Women that gossiped were also punished with the ducking stool. In this punishment the woman was strapped to a chair and frequently dunked in water. In many cases the women would drown. Obviously these punishments are like no other and are extremely harsh.
Crime and Law Sources
Hinds, Kathryn. Life in Elizabethan England The City. 2008. 68-69,75-76. Print.
Ingpen, Robert, and Micheal Rosen. Shakespeare. 30-33. Print.
English 8-3
4/3/10
18. WHAT LAWS GOVERNED ENGLAND IN SHAKESPEARE’S TIMES? WHAT CRIMES WERE COMMON IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? AND, WHAT WERE THE PUNISHMENTS? WHAT IS THE CLINK? WHAT WERE JAILS LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND?
The enforcement of the law and the level of crime in Elizabethan England are chaotic compared to today’s standards. Basically, there was a parish in each town that looked over the people and protected the law. These people put criminals in jail or decided punishment for them. The crimes that were going on in the Elizabethan time are similar to today’s crime, except, there was a lot more of it. Many people were minor criminals that robbed houses or pick pocketed people on the streets. Several people were also punished for public drunkenness or even small gossiping. Yet, there were also big crimes like manslaughter, rape, and piracy. These crimes led to severe punishment. To enforce the law and keep the level of crime down the government had to have consequences for the criminals.
The Pillory. the Brank, a Hanging, and the Whipping Post
The punishments depended on the crime committed but it was always extremely cruel. There were many unusual punishments that are never even considered to be used today. The brank, the pillory, the stocks, drowning, burning, hanging, the drunkard's cloak, the ducking stool, and the whipping post were all different types of punishment. All of these punishments or tortures were used for different specific crimes. A woman found guilty of poisoning her husband was burned alive. A cook who poisoned his customers was boiled to death in a cauldron of water or lead. The drunkard’s cloak was a punishment for public drunkenness. In this the criminal the drunk was forced to put on a barrel as if it was a tee-shirt and wander through town while the villagers jeer at him. For women who gossiped the brank was used as the punishment. In this punishment the offender would walk around town with her jaw clamped shut and was then whipped or was put in a pillory. The pillory was a wooden post with a wooden block on top with holes in it for the person's hands and head to be placed in. The heads and hands were then locked into place while the person was forced to stand in public display for the death sentence. The stocks are like the pillory except the feet are locked in. Women that gossiped were also punished with the ducking stool. In this punishment the woman was strapped to a chair and frequently dunked in water. In many cases the women would drown. Obviously these punishments are like no other and are extremely harsh.
Crime and Law Sources
Hinds, Kathryn. Life in Elizabethan England The City. 2008. 68-69,75-76. Print.
Ingpen, Robert, and Micheal Rosen. Shakespeare. 30-33. Print.
Murray, John. Elizabethan England. 17,22,36,45-47,65,67,147,7. Print.
Singman, Jeffrey. Daily Life in Elizabethan England. 41-49. Print.
Brice, Peter. "Bloody Painful: Crime and Punishment." Elizebethan England. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Apr 2010. <http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/Bloodypainful.html>.
Links
http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/Bloodypainful.html
http://www.william-shakespeare.info/elizabethan-crime-punishment.htm
Crime--and--Punishment-Crime--and--Punishmen.php
Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIG19L75UbY